1 Timothy 1:8-11

Understanding the Purpose of the Law

Paul was not saying that the law was not from God or that it did not fulfill a very important part of his purpose. It was the law that taught man he was a sinner. The law was holy but man could not live up to the perfection it demanded (Romans 7:7-12). Further, there was not a provision for the removal of sin under the law. Thus, the law of Moses had to be called the law of sin and death (Hebrews 10:1-4; Romans 8:2). Paul then went on to show what the false teachers failed to understand about the law. The law was not made for the man dead to the law and freed from sin (Romans 7:1-4; Romans 5:6-11). Its purpose was to reveal sin to man and make him realize the exceeding sinfulness of it (Romans 3:20; Romans 7:13).

The first four specific sins Paul lists that are condemned by the law obviously refer to violations of the first four of the ten commandments which deal with a man's relationship to God. The next sins Paul lists are extreme violations of the last six of the ten commandments. Not only was the law a rule for the worst of the criminals, but it also dealt with more every day situations that led to a man going against sound teaching. All of those sins would be condemned not only by the law of Moses but also by the glorious good news our great and blessed God committed to Paul. He had to preach it so man could realize the danger of sin and turn to God for help (1 Timothy 1:8-11).